Automatic gain control system



May 12, 1953 H, RUBEN 2,638,538

AUTOMATIC GAIN CONTROL SYSTEM Filed May 27, 1949 Snnentor HARRY RUBEN lovv signal levels.

Patented May 12, M1953 -HarryiRlubemThiladelphia,Pa., assig'nor-.to Radio k10orporatioinof America,a corporation iof Dela- 'This 4invention relatesto automatic gain-controlsystemsfor Yuse in conjunction withfthe sigvvnal ampliiiers of lradiolreceivers, yand vhas rparticular reference `to `a `systenifor developing an --automaticgain control voltage radiofreceivers wherein signal detection is eiected #at relatively vThere l are. many' types fof radio receivers Awhere it is desirable y-toinininiize the Anumber-of `circuit elements employed land to -simplify Ithe circuit arrangements -and `thereby minimize thev costs of .fabricating the instruments. AiRadio receiversof such a i character include small table -models and 'portable instruments. One of the? devices com- Irnonly employed to effect-such=arresultis to-utilize little-arno signal amplification-beiore signal: detection `isfeiiected. #Consequently the signal 'de- -tection necessarilyisaccomplished at a relatively low signal level.

It has been found that,=where it is desired to provide radio `receivers of the character-describyedn-with automaticngaincontrol facilities, conventional 1 expedients v'employed in vother-types Aof radio lreceivers are :not :entirely satisfactory.

By Areason of the fact thatsignal detection Ais f Y` effected at a relatively Alow-signal level, .thez-automatic vgain control `voltage which imay :be produced bythe use of .prior art *systems is, inmost cases, inadequate Lto ,maintain the signal Ylevel -substantially ffconstant. 1a `result L:there lare present 'in such receivers appreciable:ivariations -in the output signal level .resulting-.from .input i signal level changes.

.In an eifort to increase the magnitude :ofthe 4`automatic.gain=control voltage inzradio receivers :of the character described, one expedientwhich has been employed consists of, first, .deriving .a

unidirectional l voltagev which lvaries vin vits, average "magnitude ilin'- accordanceV with changes in the signal level and, thengcombininglit with-'af iixed unidirectional voltage of opposite polarity,f;there "by to produce a'gaincontrol voltage of-proper lpolarity and of somewhat 'greater-magnitude than that which-may be secured from the detectedfsig- -nal alone.

One suchsystem employs, 4in addition ytothe 'signal detector, Van :auxiliary diode, the potential of one of its *electrodes varying -faccordance 'with the detected signal-andthe other/electrode 'being coupled .to the l inputf circuit of the receiver v'which ordinarily is vthe antenna coupling' f eircuit. There also is impressed upon .-theuelectrede of f the-auxiliary fdiode, the potential. of Awhich changes subject .to signalsvariations, a

ffixed potential ofl a ypolarit'y oppositeito :tiriamo-f v'Appli'c'ati'ufn 'Maly 27, 1949, "Serial No.f95y'693 .f4 yClaims. (Cl. 250g-20) the signals. Theauxiliary diodethen acts fas la `gating `device Wherebyto feed backsigna-l-controlled energy tothe input `circuit inopposition to the `signal energy impressed upon .this vcircuit 'from the antenna, `for example, to thereby reduce the eifectivenessof the received signal upon lthe radio receiver circuitscoupled to the antenna. Such systems have not been completely .satisfactory to produce the desired resultsfor the Areason that thelimpedance of 4a diode is vrnotsuiciently low, and furthermore, it is -neccessary to provide 'a diode and its auxiliary circuit elementsin addition to the signal detector.

There also .have been used, in radio receivers of the character Vdescribe-d, vautomatic gain control facilities wherein the signal detectorralso serves as the means for producing the lautomatic thel tube. A:controlvoltage from the anode ofy the signal de- ;tectortubeit .is vnecessary to couple an impedgain control Voltage. Onesuch system which is nparticularly .Wellsadapted for use ineiecting, low

'tive plate .rectification system. The advantage `of such adevice for accomplishing lsign-aldetecytion is. that `ithas arel'atively high impedance levelsignal detection is the so-called degenerainput circuit'wherebyito minimize the loading of thesignalcircuits `.preceding `the detector. A5 a 'consequence,k the Asignal-:modulated carrier wave voltage impressed upon ythe signal detector isat a maximum value. -In `circuits of this'character 'it is `4customary touse Ias .the Idegenerative plate detector an electronic tube of the triode type.

.fHoWever, inorder itc derive yan automaticsgain controlvoltage from such' ya signal detectorit `is `vnecessary that this vvoltage be derivedfrorn the anode Aof thetube, since the load. impedance VAdevvicefin which the 'detected signalvoltage is de- `yelopedus -vconnected in the `cathode circuit of In;l order to derive an automatic -gain ance device inthe anode circuit. The vtraversal Vof suchgan impedance devi-ce bythespace cur- ;.rentninihe tube effects Ya voltage dro-p whereby the;:anodepotential of the tube varies in accordance withthesignal. This, ofcourse, is what vis :desired to v.produce the lautomatic gain-,control voltage. I-IOWever, since the ,magnitude o f the space current ina detector tube of the triodetype isdepende'ni-J, notl only uponthe potential of .the control .-grid relative to its ',asscciated cathode,

butalsoupon the potential of vthe anode, itis Aseen that the-space' current 'will varyin an' undesired manner, whereby there Will be produced L"distcir"tions jin 'the output signal voltage derived 4"from thev cathode-coupled im'pedari'c device.V

generative plate rectification and at the same time to derive an automatic gain control voltage from the anode of the signal detector, it is necessary to use as the signal detector tube a multigrid device such las a pentode. Such a tube is one in which the space current is relatively independent of the anode -potential and Will, therefore, vary only in accordance with the voltage variations of its control grid. In order to employ a tube of the pentode type for the purpose of effeting signal detection and for the development of an auto-matic gain control voltage, it is necessary to provide additional circuit'elements for impressing suitable potentials upon the screen and suppressor grids of such a tube. This provision adds to the cost of the receiver. Furthermore, in order for such a device to function -properly, it is necessary that the tube always be in a conducting state so that current may traverse the cathode-coupled impedance device. Such a condition places an additional drain upon the power supply land thereby adds to the cost of operating the radio receiver. Moreover, the output signal voltage derived from such a tube is of Ia relatively small magnitude by reason of the degenerative manner in which the tube operates. Consequently, considerable signal amplification is subsequently required.

It, therefore, is anobject of the invention to provide a novel 'automatic gain control systemV wherein there are obviated certain disadvantages of the prior `art systems, such as those referred to, and lone which is capable of producing gain control voltages of relatively large magnitudes from signal voltages of relatively small magnitudes.

Another object of the invention is to provide Van automatic gain -control system which is relatively simple and which employs the signal detector in such a manner as to automatically control a relatively large source of unidirectional energy, whereby to produce a gain control voltage of which is subject to variation, is coupled to a source of such carrier waves. From the signals ywhich are recovered in this manner there is derived the low frequency component which also varies in level in accordance with level variations This low frequency signalv of the carrier waves. component is inverted to develop a I'unidirectional voltage of a predetermined polarity -relative to a reference potential. This unidirectional voltage varies in level inversely to level variations of the carrier waves. There :also is provided a source of:

a i'lxed unidirectional voltage `lof oppositepolarity relative to the reference potential. Fur-ther, there is provided means for combining the two unidirectional voltages to develop an automatic gain control voltage which varies in magnitude,

in accordance with level variations of the carrier waves.

In accordance with an important feature' of the present invention, the unidirectional voltage derived from the demodulating means is ampli-fv lied in such a manner as to produce a magnified unidirectional voltage, the level of which changes at a faster rate than the level variations of the carrier waves occur. Also, preferably at the same time, the polarity of the varying unidirectional voltage is reversed relative to the reference p0- tentiaL The novel features -that are considered characteristic of this invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, as Well las additional objects yand advantage thereof, will best be understood from the following description taken in connection Withthe accompanying drawing.

The single ligure of the drawing is a circuit diagram illustrating an embodiment of the invention in its relation to the amplifying system, the gain of which is to be controlled automatically.

Referring now to 4the drawing. there is shown in detail only that portion of a radio receiver to which the present invention pertains. There is illustrated a signal-modulated carrier wav-e source I which, for example, may be the carrier Wave signal receiving circuits and apparatus of a radio receiver and, accordingly, may be entirely conventional. The source I is coupled to a carrier wave amplifier which also may be conventional and, for example, may include one or more stages of la radio frequency amplifying system and/ or a frequency converter and/or one or more stages of an intermediate frequency amplifying system.. -Such apparatus is represented herein as a carrier wave amplifier 2. The output circuit of the carrier Wave amplifier includes la. tuned circuit 3 comprising a coil 4 and a resonating capacitor 5 by means of which the circuit 3 is resonated at the frequency of the carrier waves impressed thereon. The coil 4 forms the primary winding of a transformer 6 which also is provided with 4a secondary winding consisting of a coil 'l having connected in shunt therewith a capacitor 8, :by means of which there is formed .a tuned -circuit 9 resonated at the frequency of the carrier waves derived from the amplifier 2.

The tuned secondary circuit 9 is coupled to the diode section of an electronic tube I0. As illustrated herein, this tube is a combined diodetriode such as an RCA type 6AT6, although it will be appreciated, after a consideration of subsequent portions of the specification, that the diode and triode elements may, if desired, be enclosed in separate envelopes. One Aterminal of theresonant circuit 9 is coupled directly to the anode II ofthe diode. 'I'he other terminal of this circuit is coupled to the common cathode I2 of the tube I0 through a load resistor I3, which is bypassed for frequencies of the order of the carrier waive frequency derived from the ampliner 2 by means of a capacitor I4. The. relatively high potential terminal of the resistor I3 is coupled, as indicated, to a signal amplier in a conventional manner, not shown.

`A suitable proportion of the signal voltage developed in the resistor I3 is derived bymeans of a sliding contact I5 and impressed upon the control grid I6 of the triode section of the tube Ill. 'I'he grid circuit includes a series resistor I1 and a capacitor I8 connected in shunt therewith to ground, thereby forming a lter network, whereby the instantaneous signal component of the unidirectional voltage developed in the resistor I3is removed. In this manner there is impressed upon the control grid I6 a unidirectional voltage, representing only the yvoltage comparison point 124..

vided a source of unidirectional energy ofI nega- Vtive polarity' relative to ground which may be relatively .low frequency components' lof the 'unidirectional voltage developed inthe resistor i3.

'Space current for. the triode section ofthe tube HJ is vprovided by -a suitable source of unidirectional energy Vsuch as a-.batter'y I9, the positive f.

:for carrier frequency components by a capacitor22. r The cathode-'connected terminal ofthe resistor 2f! also is coupled by .a resistor 2 3 to a I'here also is prorepresented by the batteryy 25, the negative ter- Vminal Aof which is coupled by a resistor 26 tothe voltage Vcomparison point V2li. A diode 21 alsovis connected in the polarity shown between the voltage comparison point 2li and ground.

A.As will be kdemonstrated presently, a unidirectional voltage is developed at the point 2t and is of suitable character Vand polarity for use in controlling the gain or amplification of a signal amplifier. The point 2li, accordingly, is further coupled by a resistor 28 to the automatic gain control bus AG. C. and thence tothe signal ampliers. The resistor 28 anda capacitor 29 constitute a ufilter system for the autoy matic gain control voltage.

The automatic gain control system in accordance with the present invention operates, first, by effecting demodulation' of the carrier waves derived from 'the amplifier 2. tion is accomplished by means of the diode Ii, l2 so that signal voltages are developed lin the diode load resistor i3. The polarity of these voltages, at the high potential terminal of the load resistor, is negative with respect to ground.

The relatively rlovv frequency components of the signal voltages developed in the resistor i3 are impressedupon the control grid I6 of the triode section of the tube I in such a manner that, as the level of the signals increases, the control grid is rendered more negative relative to its associated cathode l 2, thereby reducing the magnitude of the space current in the tube.

As a consequence, a voltage of positive polarity relative to ground is developed at the high potential terminal of the resistor 2l and this voltage has a magnitude which varies inversely to the variations in the level of the signal-modulated carrier waves. In other words, as the carrier wave level increases, the magnitude of the voltage developed by the resistor 2l decreases. 'I'he magnitude of the voltage derived from the battery is somewhat greater than the maximum automatic gain control voltage that is considered necessary for eiectively controlling the signal output lever of the carrier wave amplifier 2. In a preferred embodiment of the invention this iixed negative voltage is made approximately 25 per cent. greater than the maximum gain control voltage considered necessary. However, in the event that the positive voltage derived from the resistor 2l becomes greater in magnitude than the negative voltage of the battery 25, the diode 21 becomes conducting and thereby prevents the voltage at the comparison point 24, and therefore the automatic gain control voltage, from becoming positive relative to ground.

It may be seen that the automatic gain control voltage is substantially the algebraic sum of the fixed negative voltage derived from the The demodulai battery and thevaryingpositive voltage derived fromthe resistor 2L When the signal level is -relatively low, the magnitude of the negative unidirectional voltage impressed `upon the control grid lof the tube lcalso is relatively rlow,

.and the `magnitude of v.the space vcurrent in the tube-is relatively high. Consequently,'the magnitudey of the .positive voltage developed in the resistor 2.! is relatively high and the automatic thereby effecting little or no control of the gain of the amplifier 2.

Howevena substantial increase in the level of the signal-modulated carrierwaveseiiects .the

development by the diode load. resistor A`I3 of a ygreater negative unidirectional voltage `for impression upon the control grid `I6 of the tube l0.

The magnitude of the space current in thetube therefore is reduced, thereby eiecting adecrease in the 'magnitude of the positive voltage developed lbythe resistor 2 l. In such a case the 'voltage at the point 24 will be determined more by the battery 25 thanby the resistor 2l, and accordingly, will have some Value of a negative polarity relative toground. When this negative voltage is impressed upon the amplifier 2it will effect a decrease in the gain o f the amplier whereby to maintain the level of the signalmodulated carrier vwaves developed in the resonant output circuit 3 substantially constant. The automatic gain control systemin accordance with the present invention is particularly effective by reasonpof the fact that the varying positive voltage is developed in the output circuit of the triode section `of--the tube lil). In this ,manner the -varyingpositive voltage whichy is de- `at a rate which is greater than the rate at which the level of the signal-modulated carrier waves varies. It will be appreciated that a voltage of this character is much more eiective in producing the desired automatic gain control of the carrier Wave amplifier than a voltage which varies at a rate no greater than the rate at which the level of the carrier waves varies.

As in other automatic gain control systems, the present system m-ay be provided with facilities for effecting whatever delay may be desired. In the present instance delayed automatic gain control may be eiected, for example, by suitably choosing the voltage of the battery 25 and/or by providing the diode 21 with suitable conventional circuits.

It may be seen from the foregoing description of one embodiment of the invention that there is provided ia comparatively simple and inexpensive automatic gain control system for a signal amplifier which is capable of developing gain control voltages of relatively large magnitudes from signal voltages of relatively small magnitudes. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art, however, that the invention may be embodied in forms other than that specifically disclosed herein for illustrative purposes. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be determined by reference to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A system for developing an automatic gain control voltage, comprising a source of signalmodulated carrier waves, the level of which is subject to variation, means coupled to said source to demodulate said carrier Waves, thereby to develop a rst unidirectional voltage of predetermined polarity relative to a reference potential, said voltage being modulated in accordance with said signals and varying in level in accordance with level variations of said carrier waves, an electronic amplier tube having a cathode circuit, and impedance device connected in said cathode circuit, said electronic tube being coupled to said demodulating means to de- ,Velop across said cathode impedance device a second unidirectional Voltage of opposite polarity relative to said reference potential and varying -Ain level in correspondence with said rst unidirectional voltage, a source of a xed unidirectional voltage of said predetermined polarity, said xed unidirectional voltage source being connected in shunt with said cathode impedance device in opposite polarity to the voltage developed across said impedance device for combining said second unidirectional voltage and said xed unidirectional voltage to develop an automatic gain control voltage varying in magnitude in accordance with level variations of said carrier waves, and unidirectional conducting means connected in shunt with said xed unidirectional voltage being operable to prevent voltage of a predetermined polarity from being produced by the combination.

2. A system for developing an automatic gain control voltage, comprising a source of signalmodulated carrier waves, the level of which is subject to variation, a demodulator coupled to said source and having an output circuit in Which to develop said signals varying in level in accordance with level variations of said carrier waves, an amplier having an input circuit coupled to said output circuit and a cathode circuit impedance element in which to develop a voltage of one polarity relative to a reference potential and varying in level inversely to level variations of said carrier waves, a source of a xed voltage of opposite polarity relative to said reference potential, means connecting said cathode impedance element and said source of xed voltage in shunt in opposing polarity for combining said varying 48 voltage and said xed voltage to develop an automatic gain control voltage varying in magnitude in accordance with level variations of said carrier Waves, and a unidirectional conducting device connected in shunt with said cathode impedance element being rendered conductive upon said varying voltage of said one polarity exceeding said xed voltage of the opposite polarity.

3. A system as defined in claim 2, in which one terminal of said impedance element is connected directly to the cathode of said vacuum tube and the other terminal of said impedance element is coupled to said point of reference potential.

4. A system as defined in claim 3, in which said other impedance element terminal is connected directly to said point of reference potential, whereby said varying voltage is of positive polarity relative to said reference potential, and in addition said fixed voltage is of negative polarity relative to said reference potential.

HARRY RUBEN.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,889,018 Gilbert Nov. 29, 1932 2,018,982 Travis Oct. 29, 1935 2,103,637 Poch Dec. 28, 1937 2,153,747 Farnham Apr. '11, 1939 2,171,657 Klotz Sept. 5, 1939 2,200,049 Van Loon May 7, 1940 2,241,553 Kallman et al May 13, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 380,445 Great Britain Sept. 13, 1932 43,779 France Aug. 30, 1934 (2d addition 4to 750,665) 759,727 France Feb. 7, 1934 

